Bigger Fines For Breaking MoCo Environmental Laws

The fines are issued for those who break the county's erosion and sediment control law.

The council has approved raising the fine to the maximum state law allows, $1,000. Council Member George Leventhal says he was puzzled the construction and building industries didn't push back against the higher fines.

"To the extent that there are any in private industry who say in the future, 'Oh, there the county council goes again, increasing our costs and dumping fines on us,' industry did not weigh in on this. We didn't hear from industry, and we didn't keep it secret," he says.

The bill's sponsor, Council Member Marc Elrich, believes the lack of complaints from industry is because most companies follow the law and will never have to pay the fines.

When you give to WAMU, your tax-deductible membership gift helps make possible award-winning programs such as Morning Edition, All Things Considered, The Diane Rehm Show, The Kojo Nnamdi Show, and other favorites.